The likelihood of water quality issues typically reduces across the cooler months. However, conditions within Basin rivers and storages remain favourable for blue-green algae, and with elevated turbidity and salinity from earlier northern inflows affecting the lower Darling (Baaka).
Summary of key water quality issues
Water quality within the Basin is monitored by individual States. Any site-specific alerts, warnings or advisories are issued by those respective States.
- Low dissolved oxygen: Levels generally remain well above ecological thresholds for sustaining aquatic life.
- Blue-green algae: There remains an algal risk across much of the Basin. Some key rivers and storages in NSW and Victoria have alerts in place, particularly for the NSW lower Darling (Baaka). SA is seeing elevated levels along parts of the upstream River Murray and particularly in Lake Alexandrina.
More information on algal levels can be found from the respective State government on our Report water quality issues or fish deaths page. - Elevated Salinity: Parts of the lower Darling (Baaka) River continue to see elevated but gradually reducing salinity levels from earlier northern inflows.
| Location | Algal blooms | Acid sulfate soils | Blackwater | Elevated Salinity | High turbidity | Low dissolved oxygen |
| Coorong | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Lower Lakes | Almost certain | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Murray (SA below Lock 1) | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Murray (Waikerie to Lock 1) | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Murray (SA border to Waikerie) | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Murray (Lock 10 to SA border) | Possible | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Murray (Euston to Lock 10) | Possible | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Murray (Yarrawonga to Euston) | Possible | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Murray (Hume to Yarrawonga) | Possible | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Murray (upstream of Hume Dam) | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Edward–Wakool | Possible | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Murrumbidgee (Upper) | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Murrumbidgee (Mid) | Possible | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Murrumbidgee (Lower) | Possible | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Lachlan (Upper) | Possible | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Lachlan (Lower) | Possible | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Grampian–Wimmera–Mallee | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Campaspe River | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Avoca–Loddon River | Possible | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Goulburn–Broken | Possible | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Ovens | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Kiewa | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Lower Darling/Baaka (Menindee to Burtundy) | Almost certain | Unlikely | Unlikely | Possible | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Menindee Lakes | Almost certain | Unlikely | Unlikely | Possible | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Barwon–Darling | Possible | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Upper Macquarie–Cudgegong | Possible | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Lower Macquarie–Castlereagh–Bogan | Possible | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Namoi | Possible | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Gwydir | Possible | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Border Rivers (including Moonie) | Possible | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Condamine–Maranoa | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Culgoa–Balonne–Narran | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Paroo | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Warrego–Nebine | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely | Unlikely |